The unfortunately named blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad.And now it has good reason for its glum expression – scientists are warning over-fishing by trawlers of its south eastern Australian habitat is threatening to make it extinct.The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 800m, so it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increased fishing, the fish is being dragged up with other catches.

Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster.Deep-sea expert Professor Callum Roberts, from University of York, said the blobfish had plenty to be miserable about. Prof Roberts, author The Unnatural History of the Sea, said: ‘Blobfish are very vulnerable to being dragged up in these nets and from what we know this fish is only restricted to these waters.More

The unfortunately named blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad.And now it has good reason for its glum expression – scientists are warning over-fishing by trawlers of its south eastern Australian habitat is threatening to make it extinct.The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 800m, so it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increased fishing, the fish is being dragged up with other catches.

Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster.Deep-sea expert Professor Callum Roberts, from University of York, said the blobfish had plenty to be miserable about. Prof Roberts, author The Unnatural History of the Sea, said: ‘Blobfish are very vulnerable to being dragged up in these nets and from what we know this fish is only restricted to these waters.More

Amazing pictures of Southern Ocean marine life captured by scientists working in the Antarctic were released today. The inhabitants of the continent’s seas were captured as part of a study on biodiversity carried out by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).Images of the marine creatures, which were taken in the Bellingshausen Sea, West Antarctica, include ice fish, sea pigs and crustaceans.The underwater images also show giant sea spiders, rare rays and beautiful basket stars.

‘Few people realise just how rich in biodiversity the Southern Ocean is – even a single trawl can reveal a fascinating array of weird and wonderful creatures as would be seen on a coral reef,’ said BAS research cruise leader Dr David Barnes.‘These animals are potentially very good indicators of environmental change as many occur in the shallows, which are changing fast, but also in deeper water which will warm much less quickly.More